Alternating-current-motor starter.



I. W. KAHN.

ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR STARTER.

APPLICATION men 'AUGJI, m5.

1,232,322. Patented July 3, 1917.

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' I 4 E ,1! q I ALTERNATING-CURRENT- MOTOR T STARTER.

Specifieation' of LettersIPatent.

Patented Jnly- 3, -191-7 *Applioatiozffilddlugzuist 11,4915. Ser iaI No.-'44';904.

To all w-homit may concern:

Be it known that I, IoNA'rIus=W.:K-AHN,-'a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingi-at Detroit, in the county ofWayneand-State hf ltl ichigan, have inventedaa newzzan'd'nseful Alternating Current Motor :Starter, not which the following is oi-specification.

In the use of alternating rcurrent EIIIQUDT starters, as is common knowledge, -the heaviest load 0011188 on 1' the line 1 st starting and some provisionimust' therefore be ma'cle for relieving the'fuse wherebywhe maximum load capacity of themotor is determined. v'arious switches comprising=a switch "bar by which the running fuse ismelie'ved of excess load, together withmeans for atterward automatically breaking the *circuit through the switch bar to pass the enti're current throu ghthe fuse under normal running conditions, are Welluknownyandwhe present invention has reference to laiswitc'h of this naturethatmay-be mamliia'ctured at an unusually small cost and which nevertheless possesses operative a dvantages over the more complex and expensive constructions.

The invention consists, in combination with a pivot-ed switch orrunning'bar, of a fused alternating currentcircuit'andflmeans for actuating the bar, of a seoondpivoted switch or starting bar arraIrged'to-en'gage with a starting contact, and'ineans forcausing the starting bar to engage with fthe starting contact priorto "the time 'the running bar closes the circuit through the running fuse whereby the fuse isfrelieved of excessive starting-current. It also consists in means whereby the starting eircuiti-s a-ib ton'iatically broken upon the handle being released by the operator without at the same time breaking the normal running circuit; also in means-whereby such a switch is adapted for use withcurreut-ofimore 'th-an single phase; and it further comprises the details of construction shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l-is aside View of a preferred embodiment'of the invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. =1. Fig.3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figql.

Supported upon an insulating-slab or base 1. are the hinge switch j aws'2, the'number of which varies withthe number of phases,

Ilhe jaws support the pivots t, upon each of which is mounted a running switch bar -5 -arranged:' to be swungintoenga ement with :a fr otion contact or runni-ngc ip '6 of any desi red form, andywvhen thecircuit' is com- 'pleted as stated, current passes'from the clip through the particular fuse '8, "conductor- 9 and line element 10 to "the motor (not shown). -A'lso nounted upon 'the slab at points: oppositethe correspondingclips' 6 is *a-seriesof starting contact clips 12, from each o-f which a con ductor l3 leads tothe line element 'connected t tothe opposed running clip' 6. jThe pivots l s'upport the start ing 'bars 14 whereby the circuits 2--'l2-1nay be closed, and the opposite ends 15 of the barsure connected to springs-16 which nor- 'mally tend to'hold the parts in about the positionshown. Refe'rring to each" pair of switch-"bars, there is 'pivo't'ally connected to the bar -14 at 18-alink 19, and projecting from the bar'5 eta pointsomewhat farther removedfro'mthe pivot 4. than the point 18, is a pin' zl which is received in a slot 22 formed in a second link 23. A spring 2 t, "attached'to' the pin 2l and to a second p1n'25 on=thelin k 23,'tcnds to hold thebarfi inthe position shown. The opposite'ends of the links of each pair are pivotally connected town I arm 28 (preferably by a single pivot and are insulated therefrom in any desired manner, such, for example, as indicated at 30 in Fig. 3. The-several arms 28 are rigid with a shaft -31 supported in brackets 32, and may be actuated by a handle 33.

Operation.

The handle, being swung in cloc-kwise'direction (Fig. 1), swings the switch bars simultaneously about the pivots 4:,but the 'startingbars 14, because of the relation of the points 18 and 21, make engagement wit-h th'e'contacts 12 before the'runni'ng bars 5 reachthecontacts 6. Tbispreventstbe excess'of the starting current from passing through=the "fuses. As soon as the motor attains the desiredspeed,theoperator releases the handle, whereupon the springs '16 throw the bars 14 counterclockwise about thepivots 4-and break the starting" circuits, after which the current for the normal -running load is taken only by the fuses 8 and conductors 9 to the line elements 10. This action is accompanied by a stretching of the relatively weak springs 24 and a slippage of the slotted links 23 on the pins 21, the tension of these springs being insuflicient to break the frictional engagement between the running bars and the contact clips 6. The position of the springs 16 is such that their effectual leverage on the bars 14 is also exhausted before the friction between the bars 5 and contacts 6 is overcome; consequently the normal circuit is automaticall maintained upon releasing the handle. hould it now be desirable to break the circuit, it is only necessary to manually swing the handle counterclockwise, whereupon the pin 21 reaches the .end of the slot, thus forming a rigid connection. As soon as the bars 5 leave the contacts, they are quickly snapped away by the springs 24.

Thus it will be seen that there is involved a plurality of elements (2, 6 and 12) between which two circuits (2-6 and 212) through which current may flow simultaneously are to be completed and broken, to-

gether with means for completing and breaking said circuits comprising a plurality of switch bars (5, 14;, and operating mechanism (19, 23, 4 etc. for imparting swinging movements to the bars and for causing one of the bars to complete one of the circuits (2-14.12) before the other bar completes the other circuit (256).

It is obvious that the details of construction may be changed considerably without departing from the spirit of the invention; for example, means other than the elements 28, 3133 may be employed for actuating the switch bars. And, while the circuits to the contacts 6-l2 are shown divided at points spaced from the contact 12, it is clear that the divisions may actually take place at the latter contacts, in which case one of the branches would be formed of the contact itselfin other words the wires 10 may be passed under the binding screws thus saving the metal of the conductors 13. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited otherwise thanas indicated by the subjoined claims.

I claim 1. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a pair of opposed switch bars pivotally mounted on the switch jaw, means for causing the switch bars to swing with reference to each other into engagement with the respective contacts and for causing the bar for one contact to engage with the latter before the other bar engages with the other contact.

2. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a base, a switch jaw supported thereon, a pair of opposed contacts also supported on the base, a pair of opposed switch bars pirotally mounted ml. the switch jaw, means for causing the switch bars to simultaneously swing in opposite di rections into engagement with the res-pee tive contacts and for causing the bar for one contact to engage with the latter be fore the other bar engages with the other contact, and means for automatically removing one of the bars from engagement with the corresponding contact after both bars have been brought into engagement with the contacts.

3. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a running bar and a starting bar pivotally mounted in opposed relation to each other on the switch jaw, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including two links, each of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding bar, the distance from the pivotal axis of the starting bar to the point of its connection with the corresponding link being less than the distance from the pivotal axis of the running bar to the point of its connection with its link, whereby the engagement of the starting bar with its contact is insured prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact.

4. A starting. device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a running bar and a starting bar pivotally mounted in opposed relation to each other on the switch jaw, means for causing them to swing in oppo site directions into engagement with the re spective contacts, said last mentioned means including two links each of which is pivotally connected to acorresponding bar, the distance from the pivotal axis of the starting bar to the point of its connection with the corresponding link being less than the distance from the pivotal axis of the running bar to the point of its connection with its link, said last named connection being formed by a pin on the running bar and a slot in the link, resilient means tending to hold the pin in such a position in the slot that the running bar is removed from its contact, whereby the engagement of the starting bar with its contact is insured prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact.

5. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw,'a pair of opposed contacts, a pivot carried by a switch jaw, a running switch bar and a starting switch bar mounted on the pivot, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including a pair of links and an arm to which they are 'pivotally 'connected, one of the links being joinedto the running-bar by a sliding connection, "the 'other being pivoted to the starting bar at adistance from the pivot on the switch jaw less than the distance from said 'pi'vot tothe sliding connection, and a spring tending to hold the running ba'i at one end of the'sliding connection, whereby the starting'bar is-caused to engage with its contact prior to the em gagement of the running bar with its'contact.

6. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts,a pivot carried-bythe switch jaw, a running switch bar and a starting switch bar mounted -on =the pi'vot, means for causi'ngthem toswing' in oppo site directions into engagement with therespectivc contacts, said lastmentioned means including a pair of links =and an arm to which they are pivotallyconnected,one of the links being joinedto the runningbar by a sliding connection,-the other beingpivoted to the starting bar at'a'dista'nce from the pivot on -the switch jaw less than the distance from said pivotto the sliding connection, a spring tending to hold the running bar at one end'of'th'e sliding connection, whereby the starting bar is caused to engage with its contact prior to theengagement of the running bar with its contact, and resilient means by which the starting bar is normally held out of engagement with its contact.

7. A starting device 'for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a starter'bar and a'running bar pivotally mounted on the switch jaw in opposed relation to each other, means for causing the bars "to swing in opposite directions with reference to each other into engagement with the corresponding contacts and for causing the starter bar-to engage its contact before the running bar engages its contact, and resilient means for normally holding the starting bar out of engagement with its contact.

8. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a running bar and a starting bar pivotally mounted in opposed relation to each other on the switch jaw, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last'mentioned means including two links each of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding switch bar, the distance from the pivotal axis of tlie startin bar to the point of its connection with the corresponding link beingless than the distance from the pivotal axis of the running bar to the point of its connec tion with its link, "whereby the engagement of the startingbar with its contact is insured prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact, and resilient means fornormally"holding the starting bar out of engagement with its contact.

9. A starting device for alternating current-motors comprising a switch jaw,a pair of opposed contacts, a pivot carried by a switch'bar,fa running switch bar and a starting switc h-bar'mounted on'th'e pivot, means for causing them to swing-in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including a pair of links and an'arm to whichthey are pivotally connectedgone of the links being joined to the running bar by a sliding connection, the other being pivoted to the startin bar at a distance from'the pivot on the switch :jaw less than the distance from said pivot to the sliding connection, a-sprin tending to hold the running-bar at one end ofthe sliding connection, whereby=the-starting har is caused to engage with itscontact prior'to the engagement of the running bar with its contact, and resilient means for normally holding the starting bar out of engagement with its contact.

10. A'starting device for alternating-cum rent motors'comprisin-g a base, aplurality of switch jaws supported thereon, a plurality of-pairs of opposedconta'cts, a plurality of pairs-of opposed switch bars 'pivotally mounted 'on'=the -switch jaws, one pair for each jaw, 'and means for simultaneously causing the membersof the several-pairs of switch bars to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts and for causing the bars that lead to one set of the contacts to engage there-with before the bars that lead to the other set of said contacts engage with the latter.

11. A'starting device for alternating current motors comprising a plurality of elements between which two circuits, through which current may flow simultaneously, are to be completedymeans for completing said circuits comprising a plurality of switch bars and means for imparting swinging movements to the bars to cause one of the bars to complete one of the circuits beforeanother bar completes another circuit.

12. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a plurality of elements between which two circuits, through which current may flow simultaneously, are to be completed, means for completing said circuits comprising a plurality of opposed switch bars and means for imparting swinging movements to-the-bars-in opposite directions to cause one of the bars tocomplete one of the circuits before another bar completes another circuit.

13. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch aw, a pair of opposed contacts, a running bar and a starting bar pivotally mounted in opposed relation to each. other on the switch jaw, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including two links, each of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding bar, the distance from the pivotal axis of the start ing bar to the point of its connection with the corresponding link being less than the distance from the pivotal axis of the running bar to the point of its connection with its link, whereby the engagement of the starting bar with its contact is insured prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact, and means for automatically removing one of the bars from engagement with the corresponding contact after both bars have been brought into engagement with the contacts 14. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a plurality of elements between which two circuits, through which current may flow simultaneously, are to be completed and broken, means for completing and breaking said circuits comprising a. plurality of switch bars and means movable by force applied in one direction for imparting swinging movements to the bars to cause one of the bars to complete one of the circuits before another bar completes another circuit, said last mentioned means also being movable thereafter by force applied in another direction for causing the bars to successively break the corresponding circuits.

15. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a running bar and a starting bar pivotally mounted in opposed relation to each other on the switch jaw, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including two links each of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding bar, the distance from the pivotal axis of the starting bar to the point of its connnection with the corresponding link being less than the distance from the pivotal axis of the running bar to the point of its connection with its link, said last named connection being formed by a pin on the running bar and a slot in the link, resilient means tending to hold the pin in such a position in the slot that the running bar is removed from its contact, whereby the engagement of the starting bar with its contact is insured prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact, and means for automatically removing one of the bars from engagement with the corresponding contact after both bars have been brought into engagement with the contacts.

16. A starting device for alternating currentmotors comprising a plurality of elements between which two circuits, through which current may flow simultaneously, are to be completed and broken, means for completing and breaking said circuits comprising a plurality of switch bars and means movable by force applied in one direction for'swinging the bars to cause one of the bars to complete one of the circuits before another bar completes another circuit, said last mentioned means being movable by force applied in another direction to cause the bar whereby circuit is first made to break said circuit and to thereafter cause the bar whereby the circuit is last made to break said last made circuit.

17. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a. plurality of elements between which two circuits, through which current may flow simultaneously, are to be completed and broken, means for completing and breaking said circuits comprising a plurality of switch bars and means movable by force applied in one direction for swinging the bars to cause one of the bars to complete one of the circuits before another bar completes another circuit, said last mentioned means being movable by force applied in another direction to cause the bar whereby circuit is first made to break said circuit and to thereafter cause the bar whereby the circuit is last made to break said last made circuit, said bar swinging means including a resilient member whereby the breakin of said last made circuit is caused to ta e place rapidly.

18. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a switch jaw, a pair of opposed contacts, a pivot carried by a switch jaw, a running switch bar and a starting switch bar mounted on the pivot, means for causing them to swing in opposite directions into engagement with the respective contacts, said last mentioned means including a pair of links and an arm to which they are pivotally connected, one of the links being joined to the running bar by a sliding connection, the other being pivoted to the starting bar at a distance from the pivot on the switch jaw less than the distance from said pivot to the sliding connection, and a spring tending to hold the run-.,

ning bar at one end of the sliding connection, whereby the starting bar is caused to engage with its contact prior to the engagement of the running bar with its contact, and means for automatically removing one of the bars from engagement with the corresponding contact after both bars have been brought into engagement with the contacts.

19. A starting device for alternating current motors comprising a pair of opposed contacts, pivot means located between the contacts, a running bar and a starting bar mounted on the pivot means, means for causing the bars to swing in opposite directhe corresponding link being less than the tions into engagement with the respective distance from the pivotal axis of the runcontacts, said last mentioned means includning bar to the point of its connection with 10 ing a pair of links each of which is pivotthe link.

ally connected to a corresponding bar, the In testimony whereof I sign this specifidistance from the pivotal axis of the start cation. ing bar to the point of its connection with IGNATIUS W. KAHN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0" Patents, Washington, D. C. 

